[lsander1]

I was diagnosed in November 2008 with type 2 diabetes. My glucose average is around 130 and I am on Metformin. I started out a number of years ago with sharp jolts of pain in my hands at times, which progressed to numbness on the thumb and second finger on both hands. Over the last year I have noticed I have numbness on the tops of both hands with pain when I rub the tops of my hands. I still can feel but the sensitivity to touch is very much decreased. I am sure I started out with carpal tunnel, but wonder if I have neuropathy. How does one tell the difference? I will be going to the doctor in September and I can ask him, but I thought someone on this forum might have some information.

[genie86333]

I don't know about diagnosis of neuropathy in the hands, but I know how a doc determined I *didn't* have carpal tunnel - he had me stand, arms at shoulder height, bent at 90 degrees to meet in front of me, with my hands hanging down & had me gently press the *backs* of my hands together for 2 minutes. He said if that caused numbness/pain, it was carpal tunnel, if not it was something else (in my case tendonitis.)

**shrugs** Not sure if this helps, especially if your sure you started out with carpal tunnel, but it's all I've got & no one else answered ether.

[cole68]

I had carpal tunnel my pain was in the middle and ring fingers as a dull pain that went down arm to elbow. My fingers were numb all the time. A simple surgery solved the problem i have not had any problems since surgery.

[jdog]

My psyiatrist ran an EMG (electromyelogram) test on me. Both hands showed major CTS. Two surgeries later and I was right as rain.

jdog

[keeranx]

I haven't heard of neuropathy in the hands either...mostly just in the legs...maybe it's just less common in the hands..what kind of work do you do? Carpal tunnel often develops from work that involves repetitive hand motions or for people who do a lot of computer work (typing for hours on end).

[Subby]

Why not go to a doctor sooner than waiting for months? You could be armed with knowledge and better able to tackle the issue whichever way you feel fit, much sooner.

One thing I will mention and I don't know if it applies. After a long time of bad BGs, improving control across the board can seem to bring on neuropathy type effects - probably as nerves and blood vessels regenerate. For me it took up to maybe 6- 10 months for come-and-go tingling, some numbness, especially when exercising, to receed.

I say this seeing that you were diagnosed not that long ago, and perhaps your BGs were wonky for a time before that without you knowing it?

Regardless, I think it's worth just getting along and seeing what a doc would say.